Randell was grinning from ear to ear, practically bursting with pride as he turned to Vinson Elliott. “It’s just natural talent,” he boasted, “You can’t fake this kind of skill.”

Vinson just snorted. “Yeah, right.”

Meanwhile, Nita and Shirley were happily digging into the seafood Effie had brought back for them, looking completely satisfied.

“Did you have fun playing cards?” Nita asked.

“Yeah, it was a blast. Won a few rounds, too,” Shirley replied, beaming.

Shirley nodded enthusiastically, her cheeks flushed. “Honestly, I didn’t expect those two bosses to be so terrible at cards-they lost almost every hand. I made out pretty well. I guess all those times I prayed to Lady Luck finally paid off! She must have seen how sincere I was and decided to send some cash my way.”

Nita just kept eating, silently amused. She saw right through them.

Those two were as shrewd as they come. There was no way they’d lose money at cards unless they wanted to. It was obvious they were just stalling, keeping her and Shirley occupied so Lyman and Effie could have some alone time.

So, every now and then, Nita would say she wanted to go hang out with Effie. The bosses, not wanting them to leave, would have no choice but to keep losing on purpose.

After all the money those corporate sharks had made off her, was it really so wrong for her to win a little back?

Once everyone had eaten their fill and savored two perfect days and nights of vacation, it was time to pack up and head home.

“Shirley, did you spend the whole time with the bosses?” someone asked as she zipped her suitcase.

“I feel like I’ve been wrung out like a dishcloth,” Shirley groaned.

A few coworkers gathered around, curiosity shining in their eyes.

“You really played cards for two days straight?” one asked skeptically.

Shirley shrugged. “Yep. Cards, cards, and more cards.”

“Yeah, right. I don’t buy it.”

“Me neither.”

“Believe what you want,” Shirley said, not bothering to argue.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the hotel, Nelly stormed into Irving Butler’s room without so much as a knock, her face thunderous.

His secretary let out a startled yelp, scrambling to adjust her clothes.

Nelly’s eyes were practically blazing with fury. “What the hell do you two think you’re doing?”

Irving shot her a sharp, annoyed look. “What we do in here is none of your business.”

“You get out!” Nelly barked at the secretary.

The secretary hesitated, glancing at Irving with a wounded expression but remaining rooted to the spot.

Irving waved her off, impatient. “Just leave.”

Having two women in here was giving him a headache.

When the secretary was finally gone, Nelly rounded on him. “You’ve got time to fool around while the house is on fire?”

Irving’s eyes narrowed, his annoyance barely concealed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Nelly tossed her phone at him. “Look at Effie-she’s charming the socks off both Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Etheridge. She’s smart and capable, and now she’s got both of them eating out of her hand. How long do you really think you can hold onto your manager position?”

Irving’s fingers tightened around the phone, his knuckles turning white.

He knew he couldn’t just sit back any longer. If Effie was making her move, he’d have to strike first.

“Fine. I know what I have to do. You can go now.”

Nelly narrowed her eyes, staring him down. After all the valuable information she’d just handed him, was this all she got?

“And you’d better stay away from that tramp. She’s nothing but trouble,” Nelly snapped.

Irving let out a cold laugh. “And what does that make you?”

“Irving Butler!”

Nelly leaned over his desk, bracing herself with both hands, her chest heaving with anger as she glared at him.

Irving couldn’t help but notice her figure, his gaze lingering. Swallowing hard, he tried to play it off. “Relax, I was just kidding. There’s no comparison between you and her.”

…

Effie had barely stepped into the office when a woman stormed up to her, face twisted with anger, practically ready to tear her apart. “You’re Effie, aren’t you?”